Colour is what you make it – Genevieve Kreuger
HOLI SKIN CARE TIPS:
Holi is a festival of colours and water. It is celebrated and enjoyed all over India and now even in other countries. However, it is a tricky condition for our skin, hair, and nail, as it involves exposure to lots of colours and chemicals.
The harsh chemicals in colour can cause:
- Dry skin
- Dry hair
- Brittle nails
- Allergic/irritant contact dermatitis
- Flare of Atopic dermatitis, acne, dandruff, psoriasis, and many other skin ailments
So here are the tips or things you should do while you get ready to splash that colour.
Starting with the pre-Holi week:
- Avoid getting any facials, lasers, chemical peel or any skin treatment as it can make your skin sensitive to external factors, esp colours.
- Avoid using products having glycolic acid, salicylic acid, retinoids, azelaic acid and other such actives on your face.
- Start hydrating your skin and use moisturizer regularly. You can continue using hyaluronic acid-based products.
- Don’t forget your sunscreen.
- Use a gentle cleanser. Avoid any scrubbing or rubbing of skin.
On the day of Holi:
- Choose herbal colours.
- Avoid wearing contact lenses. Wear your spectacles or sunglasses for the protection of your eyes.
- Gently wash off colours as soon as possible
- Wear full-sleeved clothes. That will protect your skin.
- Moisturize your skin well. If you have dry to normal skin, use coconut oil/liquid paraffin or thick moisturizer all over your body and face. It will form a barrier and protective layer between your skin and colours. If you have oily skin, use a good moisturizer all over.
- Wear sunscreen over exposed body parts, preferably a waterproof one with an SPF of 50.
- Protect your lips by layering them with a thick layer of white petroleum jelly.
- Coat your eyelashes and eyelids with white petroleum jelly
- Oil your hair with coconut oil, it will nourish the hair shaft and again decrease the absorption of colours and protect them from the harmful effects of colour.
- Tie your hair into a braid or bun and cover them with a Dupatta or Bandana.
- Do not forget your nails. Apply a coat of nail paint, to protect your nail plate. Also, coat your cuticles with white petroleum jelly
- In case of eye exposure, rinse your eyes with cold water for 10 minutes. Do not rub your eyes.
Post-Holi care:
- Cleansing: Double cleanse your skin i.e. with an oil-based cleanser or baby oil followed by a water-based gentle cleanser. It will remove the deep-seated colour from your pores.
- Apply a moisturizer immediately after bathing over damp skin on the face and all over the body.
- Use plenty of conditioner after shampooing your hair.
- If you have acne, use Clindamycin gel. Avoid retinoid and Benzoyl peroxide for a few days, till your skin recovers.
- For mild irritation or rashes, you can apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream. You can also take a non-sedative, anti-allergic tablet like Levocetirizine.
- In case of persistent allergy or rashes, visit your dermatologist.